Liverpool head into tomorrow night’s game with Newcastle knowing only three points will do as they look to sneak into the Premier League’s top four.
Back-to-back defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal have severley damaged any hopes of Champions League football returning to Anfield next season.
The Reds bounced back with progression to the FA Cup semi final after a 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers in midweek, and will feel confident of stopping the rot in the Premier League as they welcome a Newcastle side in freefall under John Carver.
A fifth placed finish and success in the FA Cup will represent a positive season at Anfield after such a turbulent start, but the supporters will demand better next term.
Here we have identified a team of transfer targets that could be arriving at Liverpool next season.
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Click on Brendan Rodgers to reveal the transfer XI Liverpool could have this summer
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Matthew Ryan
It seems as though Brendan Rodgers is ready to keep the faith with Simon Mignolet as his number one next season, but will look to sign a number two in the summer who can provide serious competition.
Australian keeper Matthew Ryan has been scouted during his time at Club Brugge, and is a player the Reds can easily afford.
With Rodgers working on a budget in the summer, Ryan is perhaps the most realistic goalkeeping target for the club at this time.
Carl Jenkinson
The Arsenal right back has spent the season on loan at West Ham, where he has impressed under Sam Allardyce.
Glen Johnson looks set to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season, and Jenkinson looks to have fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates behind Hector Bellerin and Mathieu Debuchy.
Brendan Rodgers is keen to add support in the right back positions, with Spanaird Javi Manquillo having offered little during his first season, and Jon Flanagan having not kicked a ball all season due to injury.
Kyriakos Papadopoulos
The Greek was a target for the Reds in the summer of 2013, but a serious injury that kept him out of action for a year put the chances of a move to Anfield out of the question.
The Reds are understood to have renewed their interest however, with Papadopoulos having impressed this season whilst on loan at Bayern Leverkusen from Schalke.
The 24-year-old is something of a character, and someone who Brendan Rodgers feels could act as a leader in a defence that endured a mixed campaign to say the least.
Gary Cahill
Given the Reds have spent more than £50million on new centre backs in the last two transfer windows, we are not expecting much movement on that front this summer.
This move certainly falls into the bracket of ‘long shot’, but when you consider Gary Cahill has under-performed at Chelsea this season, the Blues may well move for a new centre back this summer – Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane has been linked consistently.
Chelsea have also been linked with Liverpool’s contract rebels Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling, so were any bid to take place in the summer, a player-plus-cash deal should not be ruled out.
Daryl Janmaat
Newcastle currently find themselves in freefall, and the uncertainty surrounding the managerial position at St James’ Park has seen Dutchman Daryl Janmaat linked with a move away this summer.
Liverpool and Tottenham both look set to battle it out for the classy defender, who has been one of the few players to emerge from another season in the north East with any credit.
The fact he is capable of playing anywhere across the back four makes him an even more attractive target.
Geoffry Kondogbia
The powerful midfielder was believed to be on the Reds radar before he joined French moneybags Monaco from Sevilla.
Kondogbia has been one of the few big money additions to excel at Monaco, but now looks set to be chasing a fresh challenge.
He showed what he was capable of against English opposition earlier in the season, as he dominated the midfield at the Emirates as Monaco produced a shock 3-1 victory, with Kondogbia firing the opening goal from long range.
His all action style would suit the Reds, who will have to cope without Steven Gerrard for the first time next season.
Will Hughes
The 19-year-old has been on Liverpool’s wishlist for the best part of two years now, and this summer may be the ideal time for them to finally land their man.
Hughes has played his part in Derby’s push for promotion this season, but the feeling now is that he needs a move in order to reach the next stage of his development.
There are high hopes of Hughes becoming a future England international, and Brendan Rodgers record of improving young players in recent seasons suggests Anfield is the best place for him to go.
James Milner
James Milner has been one of the better peformers in what has been a hugely disappointing season for the reigning Premier League champions, yet he still can’t get a game every week.
His contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and Liverpool have established themselves as the favourites for his signature.
His work-rate, experience, and ability to play in a number of positions makes him an ideal signing for Brendan Rodgers – whilst the fact a transfer fee won’t be needed is an added bonus.
Theo Walcott
There have been plenty of stories in recent weeks suggesting Theo Walcott and Raheem Sterling are set to swap clubs in the summer – the latest of which suggests Liverpool will get £20million and the England international in exchange for their contract rebel.
That in itself sounds a good deal, especially if Walcott can get himself back to the form he was showing before his ligament injury in January 2014.
He is no longer guaranteed regular first team football at the Emirates, whilst the fact he is yet to agree terms on a new deal suggests he is looking for a new challenge.
Radamel Falcao
It has been a nightmare season for the Colombian at Old Trafford, with just four goals to his name in all competitions since completing his loan move from Monaco on deadline day.
That has not stopped Brendan Rodgers from registering an interest however according to various reports.
The Liverpool manager’s ego appears to be telling him he is the man to help Falcao get back to the form that once made him one of the most feared strikers in world football – but for what price?
Alexandre Lacazette
The 23-year-old has been described as ‘better than Gareth Bale’ by the president of Lyon, and looks set to be one of the most wanted players of the summer.
The forward has an extradordinary record of 28 goals and six assists in 27 appearances in all competitions this season, and would be the ideal man to offer support to Daniel Sturridge, whose fitness record at Anfield shows he cannot be relied upon as the club’s first choice striker.
Lacazette will not come cheap however, but Rodgers will hope to raise funds with the sales of Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini.
